Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-19

On, os q, "eh' In 1868 such feeling grew
ot ~ " Tue aouse OF the place that il was
aoo; the unanimous sentiment heipO
ason s' II, M ouch was the history of our
a seacs' iney say. 'get good man, get !
hi. L msn somehow or other a man looses
Some of the worst elements Of tho orr 49, .o"c
recognized at the shop, while other. vho
we're honest could not get liquor there. WIN
men should want to 60 back is SURPRISING
Anow inc great bulk of the people are opposed
" an agency. See how the Law has heen on.
forced in Waterville. ''' GU
Mr.. White.-The law has been r,,oh ~.
Ter enforced in that town for two vaars No.,
than before. 'e"'' past
IN ar. Liooy.-The criminal costs of Water.
As. uiuch larger than those of Augusta.
Mr. White.-That is in favor of anforca'
ment there, Vi enio'ce-
). Mr.. Libby Where does the demand for
T.; .ohe rom Who are the gentlemen
ASKING Tor place to buy liquor?
Mr.. Stevens was glad Mr.. Libby had al.
a l. 10 1868. After the attack on For,
oumpter the only thought of our people was
, 10 crush out the rebellion and there was but
li.'le necessity for prohibitory efforts in our
eny. ne Knew the opposition came almost
Is''eiv from men opposed to the prohibi.
tory law. He was decided in bis asser,;o,
that the liquor shops should not rule him ont
OF his rights. Long before its passage the
decree had gone out that this.law against the
dram shops should not be passed. But the
people were heard from and it went throuub
by vote of four to one.
Mr.. A. c. Otis-We are not here oentlo-
men,to discuss the wisdom of the prohibitorv
law but to examine the duties of mun,rinai
o1ncers in the appointment of LIQUOR agents
under that law. Now the first section of this
law declares that intoxicating liquor shall be
soid Tor medicinal. mechanical and manufac
turing purposes and further, that a Commits.
s'oner snail be appointed to sell pure liquors
tor saln purposes to municipal officers and
municipal ohcers may appoint agents
10 sell Tor the same purposes under the severe
restrictions OF the statute, and such It er severe
restrictions as the municipal officers NAV
place upon the agent, thereby recognizing the
value and necessity of intoxicating liquors
Tor SAID purposes and the right OF every citi-
zen to obtain them in a lawful manner for
those purposes. And then the prohibtory
clause comes in and prohibits all other per
sons from selling Intoxicating liquor for anv
purpose Now, gentlemen, as a law abiding
citizen, will you tell me what | shall do in
the case am about to state? Ny child lies
very sick. The doctor prescribes whi.key,
and saws it is an absolute necessity to the
chlid's life. The law recognizes its use for
that purpose and provides wav for me to
obtain it make diligent inquiry and find
no such place in this municipality
NJ winch am citizen. You tell me to go
TO druggist and get 1t. But the law SAYS
The druggist shall not sell it, and if | am a
la w ahitipU oitiz N I ap't
the law, and if | do it is my duty to immedi
ately inform the officers aud nave him pros.
ecuted, and its your duty to zee that he is 50
prosecut, d. Well, you saw you can 90 to
Hallowell and obtain your liquor of the agency,
but answer each municipality has the ri hit
through its officers, to restrict its sale to the
citizens Of that particular municipality. Wen
then, you say send to Massachusetts, but
gentlemen, it takes time that the ut cessties
of the case will not allow, and
besides for one hundred and thirteen
miles from the border Of the
State to augusta it may be seized at any sta
ton on the way and libeled and | must go on
at great expense and put in my claim, and
weeks and months may elapse before can
start my liquor for home again, and what is
to become of my child. But some say go to tn
druggist and get your liquor and keep still
about it; but, gentlemen, do you consider in
what a school you are educating the cit z'Ds
# Augusta, requiring them by your own act
10 play the hvp0crite and to break the law
which you are sworn faithfully to uphold?
Again, gentlemen, let me ask you how am |,
rs a law-abiing citizen, to obtain this liquor
for my sick child? The law recognizes
my right 10 have it and provides
way, viz by city liquor agency.
and YOU gentlemen are the authorized partle,
under the statute to provide that agency.
But gentlemen say liquor agencies have al
ways proved a failure and have been fore
most in violating the law-graEted. And
further is it not your experience, gent men.
that liquor agencies are established and
allowed to run as they please, without even
as elise a watch as you give the saloons?
But, gentlemen, this is purely business
transaction. You can appoint an agent today,
require him to give bond and surround him
with any and all restrictions you see fit and
if he does not comply with your RI quirements
you can dep)se him tomorrow aud appoint
another and bring action on the outgoing
agents bond In short, gentlemen, the sue
cess of the agency rests with you You have
unlimited power if you will but exercise II,
and your duty under the statutes to provide a
place for the lawful sale of Intoxicating
llQuOrs IS 100 patent loT Iuttuct d'suucHt'
Mr.. J. A. Homan-In all other places the
agencies have been abused.
MIR. Stevens-We deny this.
Mr.. Morril-We do.
Mr.. Otis-My experience has been that the
Mayor and Aldermen have not attended to
their duty in other places.
Mr. Holman DO you expect any different
experience in the future?
Mr.. Ots-How can a man get liquor if it
becomes necessary?
Mr.. Libby-Any way he can get it,
have 30 hypocrisy about ii.
Mr.. Morrill, Seal it.
Mr.. Otis-That's the answer wanted. As
citizen demand the right of ling what the
statute says have a right to do. Is that
unreasonable?
MIR. Homan-Iu view of tho abuses of an
agency why establish this one?
Mr.. Otis-I Cont want an agency for Tree
rum.
Mr.. Stevens-It ia better 10 have one
agency under control than TO have m'ny un
DIR eyeryhooys and the devils control.
Mr.. Ljbbv-I think my friend OILS has ar
idea. He Gays he wants cnsnce to gel
l;onor. We cont want him to have it. as W.
are afraid ha will make a bad use of 1t.
know i, is bad master, it targtes the head.
Who is going to look to after the agency
Mr.. Otis-The city government.
Mr.. Lihbv-Thev won't.
Mr.. Otis-This is specious.
Mr.. Morril-Let Mr.. Libby do it.
Mr.. Lihbv-I should Ike to have some bet
- l THE onp has caus q no end OF